Successful away raid for Warriors
LITTLEBOROUGH Under 13 Pink Warriors produced the result of the weekend as they beat Old Brodleians 8 tries to 6.
The result was even more pleasing as Boro travelled up to Woodhead, the home of Old Brodleians with a few key players unavailable, despite this they were able to field a full team.
Having the disadvantage of having to play up hill first was always going to provide a stern test of fitness with no substitutes.
The Littleborough defence was tested with strong tackling from Isobel Williams and Aaliyah Buxton keeping the damage to a minimum.
Some great set plays from the ruck saw Kady Hoyle, Buxton and Niamh Clegg brought the scores level at the interval.
In the second half, Littleborough stepped up the pressure and found the higher gears with the game much more open.
Alyssa Parker dominated the rucks and in this instance provided clean ball for Abigail McVinnie, who in turn fed the ball to Aimee Boyce to make a monumental drive from the 22 which provided more tries for Clegg.
Further tries in the latter stages from the impressive Parker and Hoyle gave the exhausted Pink Warriors a well deserved away victory.
After the brilliance of last weekend’s away day performance at Burnley, Littleborough’s Under 15 Girls came into this week’s fixture full of confidence and anticipation. Up against them were Hipperholme based Old Brodleians.
The home side from the first whistle pressed and harried Boro into mistakes and opened the scoring early on down the right.
Old Brodleians continued to hold the ascendancy and scored twice more to take a 17-0 lead into the break within the first game.
Littleborough were a shadow of their former selves as simple handing errors and some highly suspect breakdown work from the home side stunted any momentum they generated.
However eventually through centre Courtney Mills strong running through the heart of the Old Bros defence, Boro got a big reward for their effort and commitment.
The second game for large parts was even as both teams had periods of sustained pressure.
Unfortunately for the visitors it was Old Brodleians who made the breakthrough with a couple of scores.
An opportunistic try from the full back when it appeared Boro had managed to deny the home side.
The third proved particularly controversial as the flanker clearly knocked on as she went to ground the ball. The referee was unmoved and gave the try anyway.
Littleborough never gave up and threatened a way back into the game with strong breaks from the likes of Amy Perren, Kirsty Bella, Kiera Boardman and Ellie Overton.
However the come back never materialised as Old Brodleians u 15s utilised having 17 on the field of play for the majority of the afternoon with another two scores in the left corner.
On a day of disappointment and frustration, it is opportunity for huge learnings; in the hope of re-capturing the obvious quality they have showed all season.